Michael Keaton will forever be etched in the memories of millions of fans worldwide as the original film Batman, having starred as the Caped Crusader in 1989's Batman and then again in its 1992 sequel Batman Returns, but this summer he's primed to leave behind a whole new kind of legacy, this time a much more menacing one.
The Academy Award-nominated actor will of course star as Adrian Toomes a.k.a. The Vulture in Marvel's Spider-Man: Homecoming, which will be the beloved wall-crawler's official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following his debut in the 2016 blockbuster Captain America: Civil War. Keaton will star opposite up-and-comer Tom Holland (The Impossible), who is headlining the Jon Watts-directed film as everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood web-swinger. Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) and 2x Academy Award-nominee Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) will also feature in key roles.
In a recent profile on Variety, Keaton, who is currently on the press tour for his latest release The Founder, spoke at length about the surprisingly interesting (and unexpected) challenge playing the Vulture presented him with. When asked a question regarding the inherent likability he often brings to the roles he takes on, and how it's been quite some time since he's tackled a truly evil character, Keaton replied: "Yeah, Vulture, recently. But not to give too much away, but interestingly, he is and he isn’t, that character. He’s a really interesting — and more interesting than I thought — villain because there’s parts of him that you go, “You know what? I might see his point.” Really, really. It makes it interesting to play." Sounds like there could be a little more than meets the eye with Marvel's latest big-screen baddie and it almost sounds like he may have a major axe to grind with a certain genius inventor.
He then went on to share a few brief thoughts on returning to the world of superhero movies and revealed that, despite his past as the Dark Knight, he hardly hesitated when he received the call for Spider-Man: "No, I mean, not at all. It’s just a thing. A gig. I don’t mean it’s just a gig, it’s the next job. And you think you can do it or want to do it and in fact I said no, because I couldn’t, it didn’t work in my schedule. Then I’m glad to say, they kind of shifted the scheduling and it worked out. So it fit in and I’m glad I did it."
So, what do you guys think? Are you excited to see Keaton as the Vulture? Sound off with your thoughts below!
A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.
Spider-Man: Homecoming features:
Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
Marisa Tomei as May Parker
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man
Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes/Vulture
Zendaya Coleman as Michelle
Laura Harrier as Liz Allan
Tony Revolori as Flash Thompson
Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds
Michael Barbieri in an undisclosed role
Kenneth Choi in an undisclosed role
Donald Glover in an undisclosed role
Logan Marshall-Green in an undisclosed role
Martin Starr in an undisclosed role
Hannibal Buress in an undisclosed role
Isabella Amara in an undisclosed role
Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in an undisclosed role
J.J. Totah in an undisclosed role
Selenis Leyva in an undisclosed role
Abraham Attah in an undisclosed role
Michael Mando in an undisclosed role
Bokeem Woodbine in an undisclosed role
Garcelle Beauvais in an undisclosed role
Tyne Daly in an undisclosed role
Tiffany Espensen in an undisclosed role
Angourie Rice in an undisclosed role
Martha Kelly in an undisclosed role
Tyron Woodley in an undisclosed role
Michael Chernus as Phineas Mason/Tinkerer
Jona Xiao in an undisclosed role
Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theaters July 7